FOR his next trick magician Paul Daniels is going to blow up the audience.

FOR his next trick magician Paul Daniels is going to blow up the audience.

In an amazing reputation-defying feat, Daniels's popularity in West Wales has turned a tiny audience into a giant one.

Yes, the magician who is so yesterday that he's appeared in beer commercials that poke fun at his unpopularity has become an unexpected hit in Carmarthen.

And instead of appearing in a bowls club hall he's going to be topping the bill at the town's Lyric Theatre.

For years Daniels and his wife and assistant Debbie McGee have been living off his catchphrase that became a truism - "You're gonna like this, not a lot".

But they seem to have conjured up a success after being booked for the "An Audience With" show as part of the Merlin Magic and Mystery Festival in the town later this month.

And despite Daniels's appearance in a Heineken advert with his wife, singing the Carpenters' hit Close To You with the tagline "Buy Heineken or we'll keep running these commercials", the venue has had to be changed twice to a larger location due to requests from local traders.

Originally scheduled to take place in the Bro Myrddin Bowls Club, the event was moved to the 500-seat Carmarthen Leisure Centre due to increased demand.

But after a further intervention by the town's Chamber of Commerce now the show on June 21 is being staged in the plush surroundings of the 740-seat Lyric.

Robert Lickley, who owns Hamilton's Restaurant, The Queen's pub, Mount Antique Centre and Lickley's at No. 16, said, "I am delighted that this move has been made and would like to thank the Lyric Theatre for making it available, and the Chamber for reacting so quickly."